Garndiffaith 24 Brecon 31IN spite of having to make nine changes from the team that started the top-of-the-table clash against Brynmawr the previous week, Brecon dominated the first 60 minutes of this first round WRU Plate game away at Garndiffaith to build up a healthy 31-7 lead. But what happened in the last quarter can only be described as nightmarish.
Everything seemed to be running to plan when Brecon set up early pressure deep in the home 22. After an initial forward drive, the ball reached outside half Dean Gunter who stepped back inside and drove over the line for a try which he converted. The only hint that things may not be straightforward came when the home outside half dummied on half way and cut through a splintered defence to score and convert thus drawing the scores level.
That was a warning that was initially heeded as Brecon quickly restored their when Andrew Hosie won a lineout some 10 metres out and set up an effective maul which rumbled over the try line for hooker Alan Taylor to score.
Brecon then took complete control and after a number of missed chances No 8 Jonathon James broke through with an unstoppable run from a scrum close to the home line. Gunter again converted and Brecon turned round at half time with a comfortable lead.
Within minutes of the start of the second half Jonathon James picked up his second try. Now well in control, Brecon tried to expand their game a little more but again, although they created gaps, there was not the fluency of previous matches. When a Garndiffaith prop went off injured and uncontested scrums were called there still seemed little to spoil the party as Crockett set off on a blistering run from half way and scored to allow Gunter to stretch the lead to 24 points with 20 minutes to play.
A flurry of substitutions took place as Brecon looked to bring on fresh legs but at this point the game took a sudden departure from the script. Brecon’s scrummage dominance was negated by the uncontested scrums. They also lost their cohesion at line outs and suddenly they were on the back foot.
Garndiffaith deservedly posted a score as their wing ended a sweeping move in the corner. That score visibly lifted them and within no time they added a converted try from a neat move where they switched the ball back inside.
From their own 22 they ran out of defence and through the now almost non-existent visitors’ defence to score in the corner and put themselves seven points adrift. The final whistle brought an end to a miserable final quarter and relief for Brecon.
With a return to league action at Risca next week, Brecon will have to put this most recent performance behind and return to the hard work and togetherness that has helped establish them as such a consistent force in the league.